By definition, research is systematic investigation designed to obtain information on a given subject area with the aim of answering questions and reaching conclusions. While several different means of categorizing research exist, one key distinction is “primary” vs. “secondary”. Here we take a general look at primary and secondary research, focusing on what they are, the differences between them, and the benefits and disadvantages of each. Show What They AreSeveral fundamental differences exist between primary and secondary research: Primary research is new research and is done to collect original data. Individuals who conduct primary research do so in a number of ways. In the case of scientific research, these may include laboratory testing, experimentation, etc. Secondary research is based on research that has already been conducted. It involves collecting, synthesizing, and analyzing data previously generated and collected via primary research methods. Individuals who do secondary research may utilize data obtained from a wide range of sources, including scholarly journals, scientific reports, textbooks, government documents, meta-analyses, research databases, and more. Pros and ConsPrimary and secondary research each offer several key benefits and disadvantages: Pros and Cons
Secondary Research
A Solution to a Problem in Secondary ResearchBy its nature, most scientific research is primary. There is, however, almost invariably a supporting secondary component involved, as nearly all scientific studies require the evaluation of existing research information to some extent. In the case of secondary research, the problem of being able to obtain information quickly and inexpensively at the possible risk of lacking necessary relevance and currency is one that often can be hard for researchers to reconcile. For professionals who conduct research on chemical hazard, toxicological, and other aligned topic areas, ToxPlanet offers a solution to this problem. Encompassing more than 275 databases, covering nearly 1 million unique compounds, and including more than 9.4 million documents, ToxPlanet provides one-stop access to a wealth of content and data essential to a wide range of industry users, including researchers. ToxPlanet’s extensive, up-to-date content means users have access to the most current data possible, and its unique EXPERTIndex ensures that results are 100% relevant to the topic searched. For additional information on ToxPlanet’s suite of solutions and how they can help support your research needs, please contact us to learn more and to take advantage of our Free Trial.
In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Data collection plays a very crucial role in the statistical analysis. In research, there are different methods used to gather information, all of which fall into two categories, i.e. primary data, and secondary data. As the name suggests, primary data is one which is collected for the first time by the researcher while secondary data is the data already collected or produced by others.There are many differences between primary and secondary data, which are discussed in this article. But the most important difference is that primary data is factual and original whereas secondary data is just the analysis and interpretation of the primary data. While primary data is collected with an aim for getting solution to the problem at hand, secondary data is collected for other purposes. Content: Primary Data Vs Secondary Data
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Definition of Primary DataPrimary data is data originated for the first time by the researcher through direct efforts and experience, specifically for the purpose of addressing his research problem. Also known as the first hand or raw data. Primary data collection is quite expensive, as the research is conducted by the organisation or agency itself, which requires resources like investment and manpower. The data collection is under direct control and supervision of the investigator. The data can be collected through various methods like surveys, observations, physical testing, mailed questionnaires, questionnaire filled and sent by enumerators, personal interviews, telephonic interviews, focus groups, case studies, etc. Definition of Secondary DataSecondary data implies second-hand information which is already collected and recorded by any person other than the user for a purpose, not relating to the current research problem. It is the readily available form of data collected from various sources like censuses, government publications, internal records of the organisation, reports, books, journal articles, websites and so on. Secondary data offer several advantages as it is easily available, saves time and cost of the researcher. But there are some disadvantages associated with this, as the data is gathered for the purposes other than the problem in mind, so the usefulness of the data may be limited in a number of ways like relevance and accuracy. Moreover, the objective and the method adopted for acquiring data may not be suitable to the current situation. Therefore, before using secondary data, these factors should be kept in mind.
The fundamental differences between primary and secondary data are discussed in the following points:
Video: Primary Vs Seconday DataConclusionAs can be seen from the above discussion that primary data is an original and unique data, which is directly collected by the researcher from a source according to his requirements. As opposed to secondary data which is easily accessible but are not pure as they have undergone through many statistical treatments. |